Our Sermons

Bible Passage: Romans 12:17-21
Pastor: Pastor Schlicht
Sermon Date:  February 20, 2022

Jesus said it clearly to the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate right before his crucifixion: “My kingdom is not of this world.” He meant that in almost every sense. If you are part of God’s family, a member of his kingdom, your mind cannot think according to the ways of this world. You must fight against conforming to ways that seem natural and obvious. And perhaps the most radically different way in which God’s kingdom operates is how we treat those who are considered our enemies. Jesus tells us to befriend our enemies, to love those who hate us, to repay evil with goodness. In other words, he tells us to treat people the opposite of how they deserve to be treated. Today I am going to preach on the second reading from Romans 12, specifically verses 17-21 and look at how, not only are we to love our enemies, but specifically how we swim against the current of this world, and even the natural impulses of our own sinful hearts, in order to Overcome Evil with Good. 

In these 5 short verses Paul gives us 8 commands that paint a picture of how we should respond when we experience evil at the hands of other people. Two of those commands clearly prohibit revenge. 17 Do not pay anyone back evil for evil. Focus on those things that everyone considers noble. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, maintain peace with everyone. It’s the most natural thing in the world to repay evil for evil and insult for insult (see 1 Peter 3:9). Sometimes I catch myself rehearsing a conversation I recently had thinking of comebacks that I wish I’d said. We wish we could retaliate! That’s a very natural way to think. But as followers of Christ we’re not supposed to do what’s natural. We’re supposed to keep in step with the Spirit who doesn’t pay evil it’s due.

In the second command of verse 17, Paul urges us to focus on things that everyone considers noble. It is sometimes forgotten that noble virtues still exist, but almost everyone sees the goodness of being merciful and generous. Perhaps most of all, it is hard to deny the noble character of someone who loves in the face of evil. Paul reminds us that though our conduct will be very different from the world’s way of thinking, it can still be very attractive. Jesus said, “Let your light shine before others in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16). A good reputation based on distinctly Christian character is a strong witness for unbelievers and encouragement for other Christians.

Which brings me to verse 18 about maintaining peace with everyone. Note the two conditions Paul adds to this command, “If it is possible” he says, because sometimes as they say “Haters are gonna hate”. Sometimes there is no possibility for peace, whether because the person opposed to us is simply determined to hate us or because there are times we are obligated to act in defense of others or fight for the sake of God’s truth. But in most cases, we should seek to be at peace with others, especially other Christians. The truth is that much of the opposition and violence in this world is entirely avoidable. Let us not be those who add to it. This is important to apply not just out there but in our own relationships. Many couples have disagreements and tensions in their marriages. Seeking to be at peace is not a matter of simply allowing the other person to walk over you or dictate every decision, but what it does mean is to be kind in those difficult conversations and to be unselfish in working through issues. Don’t conform to the pattern of this world, the patterns of passive aggressive remarks, vindictive silent treatments, or hostile shouting matches.

Another thing this verse addresses is the statement some dear Christians have said to me. Something to the effect of: “Pastor, I could care less what other people think about me!” Now, there are a few contexts in which this sentiment can be expressed correctly, and even biblically…but only a few. Most often a statement like that betrays a mindset which doesn’t care about peace or about a Christian reputation. It runs right over portions of God’s Word, like this one, which stresses a conscientious effort to be at peace as far as it is possible. Paul doesn’t say, “You do you.” He says, if possible on your end, be at peace with everyone. Or, as Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God.”

19 Do not take revenge, dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay,” says the Lord. Notice that in the middle of the sentence Paul stops to call us “dear friends”, literally the word he uses is “beloved.” He reminds us that we are a people deeply loved by God. Instead of experiencing God’s wrath, we experienced God’s love. Jesus experienced the wrath of God that we deserved. God desired to withhold his wrath from us in love, we should not delight in the thought of carrying out our wrath either. This doesn’t mean that we don’t hunger for justice to be served. In fact, this isn’t at all a matter of being willing to “let something go”. It is a matter of faith in God’s promise of justice. Every single person will answer to God one day. Vengeance is not ours. We “leave room for God’s wrath” and we ought to shudder as we believe God when he says, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” In Romans 13 we read that the governing authorities have a God-given role of bringing wrath on the one who practices evil for the sake of all people. Of course that justice is often ruined by sin and isn’t always delivered in this life. However, one day we trust that every single person will stand before his or her Creator. Those who aren’t clothed with the righteousness of Christ will experience God’s just wrath over their sin in eternity. We don’t need to worry about taking some pitiful and petty form of vengeance in this life. As people transformed into the image of God by Christ’ cross, we agree that God should bring ultimate justice upon sin and evil, but at the same time we have his heart which does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked. 

Therefore in verses 20 and 21 Paul tells us to treat our enemies in a way that invites them to repentance and faith. In verse 20 Paul says, But: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For by doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” This verse is often misunderstood. Most assume the image of “heaping burning coals on their heads” means that our acts of kindness cause our enemies to blush with shame because they’ve been treated so much better than they deserve. However, the idea of burning coals is much more severe than a little embarrassed blush or a slight prick of conscience. Moreover, I think given the whole flow of this passage Paul probably isn’t saying that our goal in showing kindness to our enemies should be to shame them or bring greater condemnation on them. This verse is a quotation from the book of Proverbs and I believe refers to a part of daily life in ancient Israel. Back in those days you needed to keep a fire going all the time in order to insure fire for cooking and warmth. So if someone’s fire went out, they usually didn’t try to start a fire from scratch, which is quite difficult in those times. They would usually go to a neighbor to take some live coals from their fire. As was the custom, they would carry them in a bowl on top of their head back home. It was a kindness to heap burning coals on their head for this would ensure that some would still be burning when they got home. More than that, however, if you have heaping coals on your head, you have to be careful. You are thinking about the bowl on top of your head, right? It makes you consider your steps as you don’t want to drop them! In the same way, our kindness to an enemy will cause them to think about what we did. Our inexplicable kindness will be on their mind, and cause them to reconsider their next steps. This interpretation fits well with verse 21 which really is the summary and final word of the section.

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. If we take revenge on our enemies we are overcome by evil; we become like those who have done evil to us. In doing so there is little or no possibility that their hearts will be softened. They will have fresh reasons to hate us. If we bless those who persecute us and give food and drink to our enemies, there’s the possibility that we “overcome evil with good.” There obviously aren’t any guarantees, but that’s the hope. That is a possibility. By doing good in the face of evil we aren’t encouraging evil or submitting to evil, we are conquering it. We are employing the same strategy that God used when he sent his Son. Yes, that strategy will always seem upside down. Yes, it is most often difficult and painful. However, we’ve already seen how it works, haven’t we? The world threw its worst at Christ and he responded with nothing but good, and in this way he overcame the world. He conquered our hearts. 

Have you ever heard of the term “rope-a-dope”? It’s a boxing technique most famously associated with Muhammad Ali. It was his winning strategy in his 1974 title fight against the then world heavyweight champion George Foreman, known as “The Rumble in the Jungle”. Foreman was considered by many to be the favorite due to his punching power. And indeed, some observers at the time thought that Ali was being horribly beaten and worried that they might see him get killed in the ring. He was backed up against the ropes, taking punch after punch. Writer George Plimpton described Ali’s stance as like “a man leaning out his window trying to see something on his roof.” Ali’s preparation for the fight, which involved toughening himself up by allowing his sparring partners to pummel him, contributed to the crowd’s sense that Ali was outmatched. But soon Foreman grew tired from all the punches he was throwing, and Ali overcame him.

Now, you may not believe it, but the ancient church father Chrysostom, the archbishop of Constantinople, talked about the “rope-a-dope” technique all the way back in the 4th century in a sermon on our very text today: “The combatant [conquers]…when he withdraws himself, and makes his antagonist waste his strength upon the air. And in this way he will not be struck himself, and will also exhaust the whole of the other’s strength.” Now, life is not a boxing match, but the application is sharp. God calls us to love our enemies, not by punching them or retaliating but by allowing them to waste their strength on us. The mindset of Christ protects us in this sense. It allows us to avoid being offended and angry, it shields us from bitterness and allows us to dodge provoking blows. We are protected by God’s wisdom and peace, even under fire. We learn to absorb the blows and then when the enemy gets tired, we pray that over us and through us, Christ can land the K.O. with his grace. That our love will lead them to consider the love which first conquered us. 

In this way our love for enemies baits them along the way which leads to the cross and into contact with the Crucified. The more they chase us down this road, the more certain is the victory of love over evil. For the closer we get, the more we love in the face of evil the stronger the resemblance becomes. It will become clear that ours is not a human love, but more and more only the grace of God, the specific love of Jesus who, though bloody and beaten, cries out “Father, forgive them.” Because ultimately when an enemy pursues you to the cross, where Christ dies, they have to stand beneath his feet too. They come face to face with his sacrifice and the glory of God’s love. It is only by the Spirit’s power, in this way, that God will overcome evil with good and welcome another enemy as his dearest friend. God grant it, for Jesus’ sake.

Amen.